Abstract
Background: Creatine supplementation is a subject that is very well studied. New forms of creatine are suggesting improvements in this supplement performance. Creatine HCl is supposed to have better solubility and absorption than creatine. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two different doses of creatine HCl with creatine monohydrate on the strength and body composition in recreational weightlifters and to verify the relationship between strength and body composition. Methods: 40 subjects were divided in four groups: Creatine Monohydrate (CMG) 5 g/daily; Creatine HCl-1 (HCl-1) 5 g/daily, Creatine HCl-2 (HCl-2) 1.5 g/daily and Control group (CG) = 5 g of resistant starch/daily. All groups performed a resistance training program during 4 weeks. Body composition and strength were evaluated pre and post intervention. Results: The 1 RM at the Leg press was increased significantly in all groups (CMG: pre = 264.4 ± 83.8 × post = 298.1 ± 90.9; HCl-1: pre = 295.0 ± 88.3 × post = 338.3 ± 86.8 and HCl-2: pre = 274.3 ± 57.1 × post = 305.7 ± 59.4; p< 0.05), Bench press 1 RM was increased significantly only in HCl-2 (pre = 72.4 ± 25.7 × post = 76.0 ± 25.0; p = 0.003), however, there was no statistically significant difference between groups. Fatmass was significantly decreased in HCl-1 (pre = 14.5 ± 8.0 × post = 13.3 ± 8.3; p = 0.034) and HCl-2 (pre = 13.8 ± 5.8 × post = 12.7 ± 5.6; p = 0.005) but fat-free mass was increased only in HCl-1 (pre = 52.2 ± 8.9 × post = 53.8 ± 8.9; p = 0.031), with no differences between groups again. We observed strong correlations between upper limb strength and fat mass (r = 0.93, p < 0.05), and between lower limb strength and FFM (r = 0.93, p < 0.05) only in HCl-1 group. Conclusions: We concluded that creatine HCl and creatine Monohydrate improve performance but only creatine HCl induces changes on body composition in recreational weightlifters with differences between creatine HCl doses.
Highlights
Creatine supplementation is a subject that is very well studied
We concluded that creatine HCl and creatine Monohydrate improve performance but only creatine HCl induces changes on body composition in recreational weightlifters with differences between creatine HCl doses
When body composition was analyzed, fat mass (FM) was significantly decreased in HCl-1 (p = 0.034) and HCl-2 (p = 0.005) but fat-free mass (FFM) was increased only in HCl-1 (p = 0.031), there was no statistically significant difference between groups again
Summary
Creatine supplementation is a subject that is very well studied. New forms of creatine are suggesting improvements in this supplement performance. The main reports were on weight gain and water retention [1] [3] [4] with some studies reporting gastrointestinal stress [1] [3] [5] and one of these studies reporting a strong correlation between diarrhea and the CrM doses ingested [6] These adverse effects of CrM are probably related to the mechanism of action of the substance and the dose used to ensure the efficacy of the supplement. CrM is usually supplied in a large dose, a loading protocol, in order to completely fill muscle storages, being absorbed in the intestine This protocol usually generates an excess of creatine in the system that is partially responsible for the side effects associated with CrM supplementation
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